Willy

[winter_wisp]

He'd not sent word he was coming, so he hadn't been surprised to find no sign of anyone home the first night he'd stopped by, but the day after he'd happily tried again, knocking lightly on the familiar door and whistling happily.

He'd missed Willy and the Phouka. He may have even missed the blind mortal a bit as well- However, his new life with his own kind had done wonders for the pixie. Time moved so differently there, and Winter almost looked like an adult now. Older, and slightly calmer too. 

His hair had gone from shock white to a pile of red and brown curls, and his skin was ever so slightly sunkissed and pink, rather than pearly white. Changes brought on from living so deep in the woods.

"Willy Silver, Willy Silver, open your door!" Winter sang happily.

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[willysilver]

Willy did open his door then and he smiled at the sight of the changed pixie. He looked healthy and happy and more grown than the childlike slave the prince had rescued.

"Winter, my brother," he proclaimed happily and took the little pixie in lanky arms to hug him close. "Oh, I have missed you."

[winter_wisp]

Squeaking happily, Winter slung his arms around the fae prince and held on tightly.

"I have come to spend the winter with you. I've missed you so very much," he confessed. "You, and the Phouka too!"

Keats came over to investigate, and Winter was instantly distracted by the friendly beast.

"Hello dog friend, nice to meet you," he grinned, bowing to the dog- who strangely did the same.

[willysilver]

"This is Keats, Fin's dog. Oh, my friend, so much has changed. Come in, come in, we will drink and feast and talk. You look happy and as if you've aged a hundred years," Willy said happily, beckoning Winter inside.

[winter_wisp]

"I'm two years older now," Winter said proudly, petting the dog a while longer, then following after Willy.

"It was Halloween when I arrived. People gave me sweets."

[willysilver]

"Ah, Halloween, a lovely holiday. It has changed quite a lot over the years. It used to be quite Christian, but now it is about sweets and fun," he replied. "We have hardly been home since Halloween...our night was, hrm, well...unusual," Willy added.

[winter_wisp]

"I like sweets," Winter grinned, moving to stand at Willy's side and bouncing on his heels slightly.

"Did you make mischief, Fae Willy?" he asked with an impish grin.

[willysilver]

"Not exactly. We were caught up in a nightmare and something happened. Finlay can see now. But at such a price. His life is gone. He is neither alive nor dead. He's cold as can be, Winter...and luminous as you once were."

[winter_wisp]

Winter cocked his head, visibly confused- Then gasped.

"He's a zombie! Like in mortal films! You must remove his head Willy or he will eat your brains!" he squeaked, covering his own head as he spoke, then looking around nervously.

[willysilver]

THat sparked a laugh the kind of which he'd not had since before that fateful night.

"Oh, my brother, you have watched too many horror movies. His is not a zombie," he said when the laughter had passed. "Though...he does have to eat a special diet. A revolting one. But one he must have. And now...now he will never die, I will never fade. It is a good thing," he proclaimed.

[winter_wisp]

Winter seemed unsure, but he trusted Willy's judgement.

"We will be kin forever," he chirped.

[willysilver]

"Exactly!" he said happily. "Now, wine and fruit and I have the most decadent dark chocolate. You must try it," he said as he went to the kitchen to pour wine and arrange a plate. "And you must tell me of your last two years."

[winter_wisp]

"I've been practising my magic, and teaching potions to the other pixies. Some are stronger than our healing spells," he explained. "And I helped them better hide the village, and they let me attend school! I even have my own home. It's a mushroom! I like it very much."

[willysilver]

"How delightful. Next I shall have to visit you at home," Willy said happily. Surely he could have a long visit and time in the mortal world would pass so slowly.

"Do you have friends? Lovers?" he asked.

[winter_wisp]

"Many friends- No lovers," Winter confessed, blushing slightly pink. "I haven't shared a kiss since... Since the Phouka."

[willysilver]

"Really? In two years?" Willy asked, his brows rising. Then he tilted his head. "You are not pining for the dog, are you?"

[winter_wisp]

"No," winter replied quickly- Perhaps a bit too quickly. "I just haven't found anyone else I want to kiss."

[willysilver]

"I see," Willy said, then smiled. "As long as you do not deny yourself. It does no good to hide from happiness, even if it is only for a night."

[winter_wisp]

"It's scary though. It wasn't scary with the Phouka, but it's scary with others. They don't make me feel warm as he does. They don't make me feel calm and protected," Winter sighed, perching himself on the counter and stealing nibbles.

[willysilver]

"Shadows of the wizard clinging to you, no doubt," he said gently, offering Winter a bit of melon grown in Spain.

[winter_wisp]

"Or maybe my heart is like yours, Will. True to only one," Winter said shyly, popping the melon into his mouth.

[willysilver]

"Do you...do you fancy yourself in love with the Phouka?" Willy asked curiously. He absolutely did not tease about this. Love was a weighty subject when it came to the hearts of the fae.

[winter_wisp]

"I don't know. How would I know? I'm not sure pixies even can love!" Winter squeaked. "We are all so youthful, and my Kin seem to flutter from one bed to another... I only think of Phouka's bed though! ...Maybe I'm broken. Maybe Aspid broke me."

He sighed sadly, sliding off the counter and then focusing his magic to force the potion to wear off sooner than it was meant to. A new trick he'd learned that let him shrink down in his own time.

He had changed before his feet even hit the floor and he freed his wings from beneath his coat so he could flutter up to sit on Willy's shoulder.

[willysilver]

With Winter shrunk down, Willy took up a knife to cut the fruit into smaller bites and then he went to the cupboard to find a pixie size glass for wine.

"Have you seen him since you have returned?" he asked. "Have you spied on him, even?"

[winter_wisp]

"I would never!" Winter gasped. "I haven't seen him yet. Though I did hope he would allow me to stay with him while I'm in the mortal realm," he sighed, standing up and starting to braid a small portion of Willy's hair.

[willysilver]

"You should ask him," Willy said. "I can call him now and you can ask him."

And before Winter could protest Willy called his name thrice and waited. A moment later a large black dog appeared in the room, panting and looking at Willy and Winter.